The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-27

who was to kncwl He must carry four hundred
pounds about with him till Monday, when the
neglect would be surrepttiousiy repaired; and
meanwhile be was free TO pass the afternoon on
the encircling divan OF the billiard-roon, smok-
ing his pipe, Shipping pint of ale, and enjoying
TO the masthead the modest pleasures of admi-
ration.
None can admire like young O: all
youths passions and pleasures. this is the most
common and least alleged; and every flash of
Aan's black eyes; every aspect OF his curly head;
every graceful reach, every easy, stand-oH atti-
tude of waiting, ay, and down to his shirt
sleeves and wrist-links we're by John
through luxurious glory. He valued himself
by the possession of that royal friend. Rugged
himself upon the thought, and swan in warm
azure; his own defects, like vanqushed difficult
ties, becoming things which to plume himself.
Only when he thought of Miss Mackenzie there
fell upon his mind q shadow of regret; that
young lady was worthy of better things than
plain John Nicholson. still known among school
mates by the derisive name of FATTY" and he
felt, il he could chalk cue stand at ease,
with such a careless grace as Alan, he could re-
proach the object of his sentiments with less
crushing sense of inferiority.
Before they parted, Alan made proposal that
was startling in the extreme. He would be at
Colette's that night about twelve. he said. Why
should not John come there and get the money!
To go to Colette's to see life, indeed; it was
wrong; it against the laws: it partook. in
very dingy manner, OF adventure Were il
known, it the sort of exploit that disconsid-
cred a vouEc man for good with the more SER
ious classes, but gays him standing with tho
could not come, without vaultng hyperbole.
under the rubic of gded saloon: and, if it was
a to so there the sin was merely local and
municipal Colette Whose name do not know
how to spell, for was never in epistolary COM
munication with that hospitable outlaw, was
simply unlicensed publican, who gave sup
pers aftereleven at night the Edinburgh hour of
closing. If you belonged to club you could
get much better supper at the same hour, and
lose not jot in public esteem. But if you
lacked that qualification, and were an hupgered,
or inclined towards convivIality az unlawful
hours. Colettes was your only port You were
very disrupted. The company not
cruited from the Senate or the church, though
the bar was very well represented the only
occasion on which flew in the face of my coun-
trys laws, and, taking my reputation IN my
hand, penetrated into the grim supper-house.
And Colette's freauenters, thrillingly conscious
of wrong doing and that two handed engine (the
policemen) at the door," were perhaps inclined
to somewhat feversh excess. But the place was
in no sense very bad one; and it is somewhat
strange to me, at this distance Of time, how it
had acquired its dangerous repute.
In precisely the same spirit a man may de-
bate project to ascend the Matterhorn, to
cross Africa John considered Alar's proposal.
and, greatly daring. accepted it. As he walked
home the thoughts of this excursion out of the
safe places of life into the wild and arduous
stirred and struggled in his Imagination with the
image of Miss observation-disclosures and yet
kindred thoughts for did not each imply
not each him forth and warn him back
again into himself2
Between these two considerations. at least, he
was more than usually moved; and, when he
got to Randolph Crescent. he quite forgot the
E4O0 In the inner pocket OF his great coat, hung
up the coat with its rich freight upon his par
tIcular Dic of the hat-stand, and in the very
action sealed his doom.